The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Bowen was rated as a 3-star prospect and the No. 24 outside linebacker in the Class of 2017, according to the 247Sports composite ranking. However, he also ran the 100 and 4×100 for Woodmont High School in Piedmont, S.C.

Most notably, he won the Region I-5A championship in the 100 meter with a time of 10.96.

Bowen believes that speed will translate to the football field, where he’ll be well-equipped to hawk down running backs and receivers. He should also get a chance to chase quarterbacks.

“They haven’t said specifically but they want to use me all over the field,” Bowen told The State. “They like my ability to run and go from sideline to sideline, but they also like my pass rushing. They want to move me around a lot.”

When Bowen signed with South Carolina back in February, linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler — who helped recruit Bowen — said the program was “excited about the versatility (Bowen) gives us.”

There’s no doubt Bowen can help the Gamecocks in two areas: depth at linebacker and speed on special teams.

Bowen enrolled at South Carolina on June 8, exactly one year after he gave his commitment in 2016. He chose the Gamecocks over other Power 5 offers from Louisville, Missouri, Maryland and Minnesota.